Scale.



S. G; CRANE.

SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED P3114, 1912.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

l l I l I l l l -M HH .fm/cvzfor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL G. CRANE, OFTOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO TOLEDO SCALE 00., OF TOLEDO,

4 OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

scams.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL G. CRANE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at T0- ledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scales, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic illuminating devices and more particularly to a device of that class which may be used in connection with desks, scales, tables, safes, chairs, etc., whereby an electric lamp may be automatically lighted when weight is placed thereon, and automatically extinguished when the weight is removed.

The principal object is to provide a simple means which may be easily applied to any of the above articles so that when weight is placed on said article, an electric lamp will be lighted.

The object is accomplished by the construction herein described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is an elevation of a scale provided with an illuminating device constructed according to my inventio-nyFig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the device; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the forward end of the casing of same; Fig. 4 is a rear end view of said casing; Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the forward end of bar 19; Fig. 6 is an elevation of a modified form of the device; Fig. 7 represents in vertical section an additional form of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the parts In the scale shown in Fig. 1, 1 designates the main housing, 2 the chart frame, 3 the pan and 4 the adjusting screws, all of which are well known and hence not described in detail.

In accordance with my invention, electric lamps 5, carried by a reflector 6, are'mounted, preferably above the chart 7 and at one side thereof, so thatthe light emitted by the lamps 5 may shine upon said chart. The reflector has an upwardly projecting portion 8, in one or both sides of which-is mounted an opaque glass 9 havin transparent letters 10. From the bottom 0 said reflector project supports 11 which are attached to the frame 2 by the usual screws 12,'or in any preferred manner. The chart that is-so illuminated is the one that is "faced by the salesman, and hence in the shadow in a majority of shops.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed February 14, 1912. Serial No. 677,590.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

The automatic illuminating device, to be described is adapted to be laced beneath the scales in such a manner t at one of the adusting screws 4., of the scale, will rest thereon and comprises a lower casing member 13, having a bottom portion 14 and side portions 15, the forward ends 16 of which are beveled off to meet bottom portion 14. Cut in said beveled portions 16 are notches 17, which terminate above bottom portion '14, and in which lies the knife edged supporting member 18, of a beam 19, which latter is adapted to project beyond the rear of said casing 13 and receive a weight 20. The forward end 21 of said beam 19 is broadened and of less thickness than the body portion thereof and is provided with a slot 22 that is adapted to receive a ball 23. Covering said lower casing member 13 is a top casing member 24 which comprises a top portion 26 and side portions 27 that are adapted to fit on the outside of side portions 15 and be secured thereto by means of screws 28.

Secured to the lower side of top portion 26, by means of screws 29, are two pieces of insulating material, the upper one 30 of which extends unbroken practically the full length of top portion 24. Secured to the lower insulating member 31, by means of screws 31, is a spring 32, whose free end extends downwardly a-nd backwardly and rests upon a piece of insulating material 33 each other.

Through one of each of side portions 15 and 27 are holes 36 that register and receive a bushing 37, through which the lead wires pass. Metal plate 34 is connected by a wire 38 to lamps 5, and spring 32 is connected by wire 39 with plug 40, the other wire 41 of which is connected with the lamps, the lat ter thus being in series with the circuit breaker. After proper electrical connections have been made the circuit breaker is placed beneath the scale so that one of the adjusting screws 4 on the side next to pan 3, rests on ball 23. Plug 40 is screwed into an ordinary lamp socket and a weight placed in the scale pan. tional Weight will force end 21, of beam 19, downward, thus causing spring 32' to contact with one of screws 35, thereby closing the circuit. By moving weight 20 on beam 19, it will be'seen that a very fine adjustment may be obtained, such as illuminating the chart when a small fraction of an ounce is placed in the pan or when any predetermined weight such as one pound is weighed.

The above description refers to the preferred form of my device as applied to the platform type of scales. In using the same in connection with a spring balance scale,

or any article which may be suspended from above, a few slight modifications are necessary as shown in Fig. 6, in which the casing member 24 is provided with laterally turned lugs 42 having apertures 43, so that the device may be secured to the ceiling or over head support. Bar 19 is provided at its forward end with a hooked portion 44 from which the spring balance is suspended.

As previously stated, the device may be applied to desks, safes, tables, chairs, etc., or to any object on which electric lights are used and upon which it is desirable to lower the cost of current. For example, in using my device with a desk, I place in such a manner that one roller or leg will rest upon end 21. After proper electrical connections are made and lamps installed, it will be readily seen that by laying'the arm on the desk the lamp will be illuminated.

In using the device with safes, the operation is the same in that a slight pressure will illuminate the lamp. In this connection it may be used as a protective. device by either illuminating a lamp as a signal or producing an audible alarm.

V-Vhile the forms heretofore described are the preferred constructions in which my invention may be embodied, it will at once be apparent that a variety of other modifications may be made within the scope of my invention for efiecting the same purpose. Thus for the weighted lever may be substituted its well known equivalent a spring which might be of leaf form or, by making somewhat of a departure from the particular construction above shown and described, a spiral spring may be used. In Fig. 7 the latter construction is exemplified.

A telescopic casing comprises an internal member 45 and an outer member 46 which are permitted a slight relative axial movement by a screw 47 tapped into the wall of the inner telescopic member and working in a slot 48 in the outer member. A. spring 49 is compressed between the two members, the amount of normal compression being adjusted by a thumb screw 50 extending axially through the top of the inner member It will be seen that this addi-- .56-57 cotiperating therewith. Upon the .of the .spring. By adjusting the screw 50 the tension of the spring may also be adjusted within the required limits. The telescoping sectlons are formed of insulating material such as vulcanite and each of them is provided with a contact strip 5253 secured thereto by a screw 54'55 and nut outer end of the screws just mentioned are additional nuts 58-59 for securing the leading-in wires. The thumb screw 30 is formed at about the center of its head with a depression 59 to receive the ball 23 upon the adjusting screw 4.

It will be obviousnfrom the above description that the spring may be adjusted through the screw 50 so that it will barely support the weight of the scale. Whenever any additional weight is placed upon the scale the telescopic members will close slightly together until the inner and upper member rests upon the outer member, the contacts at the same time being brought into touch to close the circuit and light the scale.

While it have disclosed the various forms of switch members therein entirely separate from the scales with which they are intended to operate, it will be apparent that if desired they may be attached to or brought upon the scale and many other changes will suggest themselves which may be made without departing from my invention.

It is apparent that in all of the above uses that the cost of electric current will be greatly reduced and that sufficient light will be yielded for all necessary purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an illuminating device for the indicating mechanism of a weighing scale, a yielding support for the scale, an electric lamp, and a switch in the lamp circuit adapted to be closed by pressure on the yielding support in excess of the weight of the empty scale thereon. I

2. In an illuminatingdevice for the indicating mechanism of a weighing scale, an 11:; electric lamp, arranged adjacent the indicating mechanism of the scale, a switch in the lamp circuit adapted and arranged to be closed by a load placed upon the scale, and a yielding support normally sustaining the weight of the scale imposed thereon to maintain the switch in open condition but yielding in response to a load imposed upon the scale to permit the switch to close.

3. In an illuminating device for the indicating mechanism of a weighing scale, the combination of one or more rigid supports for the base of the scale with a yielding support therefor adapted to be lowered by weight placed upon the platform of the 139 scale, and a air of contacts in circuit with upon said movable platform parts, su stantially as specified.

5. In combination with a weighing scale, having a stationa housing, a dial or chart and movable plat orm parts, of an electric lamp arranged to light said dial or chart, an automatic illuminating device connected inseries with said lamp which is adapted to close the circuit independently from the movable platform parts when weight is applied to said parts.

. 6. In combination with a weighing scale, having a stationar housing, a dial or chart and movable plat orm parts, of a reflector arranged above said dial -or chart, a trans parent sign in said reflector, an electric lamp beneath said reflector. adapted to light said dial or chart and illuminate said sign, and an automatic illuminating device actuated by said stationary housmg to light said lamp, substantially as specified.

7. In'combination with a weighing scale, having a stationary housing, a dial or chart and movable platform parts, of an electric lamp arranged to light said dial or chart, an automatic illuminating device actuated by said stationary housing which is adapted to light said lamp when weight is applied to said movable platform parts and anti-friction contact between said stationary housing and said circuit opening and closing device,

substantially as specified.

8. In combination with a weighing scale, having a stationa housing, a dial or chart and movable lat orm parts, of an electric lamp arranged to light said dial or chart, an automatic illuminating device actuated by said stationary housing to light said lamp, and means for adjusting said circuit opening and closing device, for the purpose set forth.

9. In combination with a weighing scale, having a stationary housing, a dial or chart and movable latform parts, of an electric lamp arrange to light said dial or chart, an adjustable automatic illuminating device adapted to light said lamp1 when actuated by said stationary housing t rough the agency of said movable latform parts, when a predetermined weig t is placed on said movable platform parts.

10. In combination with a weighing scale, having a housing, a dial or chart and movable platform parts, of an electric lamp arranged to light said dial or chart and an automatic uininating device adapted to light said lamp and support said housing, dial or chart and move 1e platform parts, substantially as specified.

11. In combination with a weighin scale havin a housing, a dial or chart an movable p atform parts, of an electric lamp arranged to light said dial or chart and an adjustable automatic illuminating device adapted to support said housing, dial or chart and movable platform parts and light said lamp when a predetermined weight is .placed on said movable platform parts, substantially as specified.

12. In combination with a weighing scale having a housing, a dial or chart and movable weighing parts, of an electric lamp arranged to light said dial or chart and an automatic illuminating device comprising a casing, a bar pivotally mounted in said casing, an adjustable weight on said bar and means on said scale housing for actuating said bar to light said lamp, substantially as specified.

13. In combination with a weighin scale having a housing, a dial or chart an movable weighing parts, of an electric lamp arranged to light said dial or chart and an automatic illuminating device, comprising a casing, a bar pivotally mounted in said casing, an adjust-able weight on said bar, a flat spring'insulated from said casing and from said bar, a metal plate insulated from said casing, said spring and said metal plate being electrically connected in series with said lamp, and'means whereby said scale housing actuates said bar to contact said spring with said metal plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14:. In combination with a Weighing scale having a housing, a dial or chart and movable weighing parts, of an electric lamp ar ranged to light said dial or chart and an automatic illuminating device comprising a metal casing, an insulating strip secured within said casing, another insulating strip secured with said first named strip to said casing, a metal plate secured to said last named insulating strip, a flat spring also secured to said last named insulating strip and in the path of said metal plate, a bar pivotally mounted in said casing contacting with, but insulated from said flat spring, and means whereby said scale housing actuates said bar, for the purpose set forth.

lamps to the source of current, said connections including the contact members.

16. In combination with a wei hing scale having a base and a plurality o 'feet sup porting the same, an electric lamp for lighting the scale, a switch in circuit ,with the lamp having a stationary and a yielding member, the latter extendin under and supporting one of the feet of t e base.

17. In combination with a Weighing scale having a base and three feet connected to the base, a lamp for lighting the scale, a switch in circuit with the lamp and comprising a relatively stationary member and a yielding member extending under one of the 15 feet of the scale.

18. In combination with a weighing scale having a base and a plurality of supporting feet, one at least of which is adjustable, a lamp for lighting the scale and a switch in 20 circuit with the lamp comprising a stationary contact and a yielding contact extending beneath and in contact with the adjustable foot of the scale.

SAMUEL G. CRANE. Witnesses:

CHAS. L. KIMBALL, J. BURKHOLDER. 

